STEM and Problem Solving

STEM and Problem Solving

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are active components in the real world. This course will outline how to apply the concepts and principles of scientific inquiry, encouraging the use of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to produce viable solutions to problems.

Students will learn the scientific method, how to use analytical tools and techniques, how to construct tests and evaluate data, and how to review and understand statistical information. This course is designed to help students understand what we mean by problem solving and to help understand and develop skills and techniques to create solutions to problems.

Advanced problem-solving skills are necessary in all science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines and career paths. This problem-solving course stresses analytic skills to properly format problem statements, use of the scientific method to investigate problems, the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches to construct tests, and an introduction to reviewing and interpreting statistical information.

OBJECTIVES

Understand basic techniques of problem-solving skills in the real world.

Learn to prioritize and evaluate complex problems using critical-thinking skills.

Understand how to analyze data to formulate a problem statement.

Understand how to apply the scientific method to the investigation of problems.

Understand the standards for constructing tests for research and the methods for gathering and evaluating data.

Understand statistics and models.

Demonstrate how to interpret statistical information and present meaningful research results.

Students should understand how to research a topic through books, magazines, and the Internet.

Students should have proficiency using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, and a basic understanding of Excel.